Is it true that a game inventor should have completed artwork from a graphic design artist BEFORE having their game printed? OR
Should the game printer work with the chosen manufacturer's in-house artists?
My reason for asking is to ensure that the artwork specifications my be utilized between different manufactures. No sense in wasting money for rework.
Do you know of any good graphic design artist that may be of assistance?
In my opinion, it is always better to scoop around a bit. Where I live, printers and quaility design rarely goes hand in hand. Simply, their main profile is manufacturing, not artistic design, and tough they may claim that they can design a brosschure or magazine, they offen do crappy work(at least, that's the common case here in Hungary)
Better to find somebody who knows some guys in the design industry, so you can gain a bit extra information about the people you'll work with. Try to find somebody who will make the design of your boardgame by HEART.
What I mean, you possibly won't get too far with professional studios, unless you have lots of money. If they do work for big guys, they will have lot of sidejobs running, and won't give too high priority to your game. Try to find somebody you have a chance to get closer with, before the actual work.
Check art academies. Those places may be full of creative, young guys, still full of childhood dreams. They will do it for less money, and with more convinction. Be careful tough, as you have to check throughly. They may have the spirit, but lack the skill that a serious work needs.
In a nutshell, take your time, and find a designer you can trust.